Don't Panic: Delete Those WhatsApp Forwards Asking You To Stock Up Amid India-Pak Tensions
Indians on social media have urged their countrymen and women to stock up on medicines, cash, and fuel as they ready themselves for a 'war' between India and Pakistan.
“When war starts, you’ll realise how important it is to have cash, medicines, fuel, and necessary items," a post on ‘X’ read. A few social media users have already prepared for India-Pakistan war. These well-meaning folks want you to stock up medicines, tank up your vehicles, and keep a sum of at least Rs 50K in your pocket. This Covid-19 era like hysteria has spread online and created unnecessary panic among netizens and it is refusing to die down despite PIB’s intervention.
So, what exactly led to this?
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Operation Sindoor
India carried out missile attacks on the terror camps in Pakistan and PoK early Wednesday in retaliation to Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 civilians. It has been reported that the terror headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke were destroyed successfully, making this operation a highly successful one.
“This strike shows India’s intent to finish Pakistan-sponsored terror for good. Pakistan never acted against these terror factories of globally proscribed organisations like JeM and LeT," top sources said.
Sindoor or vermillion signifies the marital status of Hindu women and is symbolic of warriors wearing it on their forehead before heading out to battle. That the terrorists had wiped off the sindoor of multiple Hindu women in Pahalgam by killing their husbands mercilessly and by targeting them for being Hindu and India has taken revenge for them and obtained justice for the Pahalgam victims – women and children. An image was posted by the Indian Army depicting ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Social Media Panic
India’s successful execution of the Sindoor op in Pakistan was celebrated with zeal by social media users and members of the opposition but soon the worries of impending war between the two nations embroiled in decades of hostility and tensions among them also became a hot topic of conversation and debate online.
Also Read: ‘Happy Sindoor Day’: How Social Media Reacted To India’s Strike On Terror In Pakistan
The commentators took to social media platform ‘X’ where they issued out PSA to their fellow Indians to kindly be prepared for an impending bar between the nations.
They further listed out essentials that one must be stocked with to avoid Covid-19 like situation where people scrambled for groceries and daily items as the country was confined to their homes in the wake of deadly pandemic.
PIB Intervenes
If the online panic wasn’t enough, a circular attributed to the government of India spread like wildfire over WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
Also Read: What Pakistanis Are Searching For On Google After India Executes ‘Operation Sindoor’
The fake advisory claimed that due to the tense situation in the border areas in the country, the government had instructed people to store at least Rs 50,000 in cash. It also mentioned the need to stock up on medicines for two months, food, water, torch lights, and power banks among other items at home.
An image of an advisory is being shared online, claiming that the Government has urged individuals to take precautionary measures and keep essential items ready at home.#PIBFactCheck❌ This claim is #FAKE. The government has not issued any such advisory
✅ Beware! Trust… pic.twitter.com/JtEcr8iRge
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 6, 2025
Fortunately, this claim was swiftly debunked by the fact-check unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) that called the circular fake and clarified that the government had not issued any such advisory for its citizens.
“An image of an advisory is being shared online, claiming that the Government has urged individuals to take precautionary measures and keep essential items ready at home. This claim is FAKE. The government has not issued any such advisory. Beware! Trust only official government sources for credible information. Stay cautious and avoid sharing unverified claims," PIB Fact Check said in a social media post.
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